UPDATE: Police need help locating missing elderly Victoria woman

Victoria police have released the image of a missing elderly Victoria woman

Victoria police have release a photo of a missing 74-year-old Victoria woman.

Police issued a plea for the public’s help Monday in the hopes of locating Diane Bates, also known as Sophie. She has been missing for almost three weeks, according to her landlord, who contacted police on Friday.

Bates has no known friends or family in the city, and she has a history of mental illness, police say.

The grainy image of Bates was taken from video surveillance footage on April 7, after the elderly woman was last seen.

Police remained tight-lipped about the source of the video.

The missing senior citizen is described as white, about 5-foot-4, with a slender build. She has collar-length straight hair, and often wears layers of clothing.

“Bates typically pushes a shopping cart with a purple cat carrier and may have two cats with her,” Victoria police Const. Mike Russell said in a statement.

If you see Bates or know where she is, please call Victoria police at 250-995-7654.